Umbrella.



0. LfATKINSON.

UMBRELLA.

' APIELIOATION FILED AUG. 13, 1913.

. 7 v Patented Ja n.6,1914.

CL.A thin-S072,

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. C-

FTQ.

CHARLES L. ATKINSON, 0F CYNTHIANA, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHESTER 1VL JEWETT, OF CYNTHIANA, KENTUCKY.

UMBRELLA.

oesxzeo.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLus L. ATKIN- soN, citizen of the United States, residing at Cynthiana, in the county of Harrison and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Umbrellas, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in umbrellas.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a rib supporting means in which the ribs may be attached to the ring which is permanently secured to the staff as well as the runner without the use of wires, the ribs being so supported that they may move freely with respect to their supports.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a rib supporting structure in which the ribs may be quickly secured to the supporting member and readily detached and replaced should the same become broken or damaged.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure which will effectually support the ribs without the use of an independent securing device for each rib and in which the ribs while freely movable in one direction will be prevented from moving in the other direction and the ribs thus supported in their extended position.

For a full understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective of an umbrella staff with the runner and outer rib supporting member arranged thereon. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the outer rib supporting member. Fig. 3 is a transverse perspective view of said member. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the body portion of said member. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the runner.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the accompanying drawings by the same reference characters.

In the drawings 10 designates the staff of the umbrella. A cylindrical member 11 is secured to the staff adjacent its end portion. This member is provided on its under face with a plurality of sockets 12, there being slots 13 forlned in the side walls of the member which communicate with said sockets. The member is provided with dovetailed grooves 14 which are disposed inter- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 13, 1913.

Patented Jan. 6, 1914.

Serial No. 784,586.

mediate the slots 13, said grooves tapering downwardly toward the lower edge of the member. The ribs 15 are formed with rounded terminals 16 which are disposed within the sockets 12, the ribs being free to move vertically to assume a position at right angles with respect to the staff 10, further movement of the same being prevented by the upper wall 17 of the slot 13. After the terminals of the ribs are inserted within the sockets 12 the plate 18 is clamped to the base of the member 11. This plate is formed with an opening through which the staff of the umbrella extends and is provided with. a plurality of radially disposed slots 19 which when the plate is placed on the member 11 will aline with the slots 13 formed therein, whereby the ribs may move downwardly to assume a position substantially parallel with the stafi of the umbrella. The plate 18 is provided with a plurality of lugs 20 which are bent at right angles to the plate. These lugs are tapered to conform to the dove-tailed grooves 14 formed in the member 11 whereby displacement of the plate is prevented when the lugs are inserted in the grooves 14.

In assembling the plate 18 on the member 11, the lugs which are disposed in the same plane as the plate are bent upwardly and then forced into the grooves 14. It will be noted by this construction that while the plate is effectually held on the member 11 the same may be readily removed when it is desired to remove the ribs. While this form of securing means is applicable to both the runner as well as the outer rib support, the supporting structure of the runner illustrated, preferably consists of superposed plates, the lowermost plate 21 being secured to the sleeve 22 of the runner and being provided on its upper face with sockets to receive the rounded terminals of the ribs or braces 23. The peripheries of the plates are slotted as at 24 in order that the ribs may assume a position at right angles to the staff, the ribs being restricted in their movement in one direction by the bottom walls 25 of the slots 24. The lower plate is formed with a plurality of wedge-shaped grooves 26 intermediate the slots 24. The upper plate 27 is provided with depending lugs 28 which when the plates are assembled are forced into the V-shaped slot of the lower plate.

It will be understood that the upper plate is formed of relatively soft metal and that the lugs which are formed integral with the same may thus be readily wedged into the slots of the lower plate. It will be noted,

however, that either of these forms of securing the plates together may be used and that both forms are applicable to use either on the runner or the support for the outer ribs.

What I claim is 1. A support for umbrellas comprising a cylindrical member, one end of said memher being provided with a plurality of sockets, the member being formed with a series of longitudinally disposed slots which communicate with said sockets, there being a plurality of longitudinally disposed dovetailed grooves formed in the member, a plate disposed to be clamped to the socketed end of the cylindrical member, said plate being formed with slots which register with the slots of the member, and dove-tailed lugs which extend radially from the plate and which are adapted to be bent at right angles to the plate and engage the grooves formed in the member.

2. A rib support for umbrellas comprising a cylindrical member, one end of which is provided with a plurality of sockets, the member at its socketed end being formed with radially disposed slots which open through the sides of the member and communicate with the sockets, there being dovetailed grooves arranged intermediate the slots and extending longitudinally of the member, a plate formed with radially disposed slots which register with the slots formed in the socketed face of the member, and means carried by said plate and engaging in the grooves of the member to maintain the plate and member against relative movement.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES L. ATKINSON.

Witnesses:

W. L. NORTHOUTT, S. F. SPRAKE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. i 

